Best Professor Colin Elliott Podcasts (2025)

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The Militarization of the Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 80 21:35

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10h ago21:35

21:35

The Roman Empire under Diocletian saw sweeping changes that reshaped its core. Provinces were reorganized and multiplied to tighten administrative control. The bureaucracy swelled, with tens of thousands of officials managing the sprawling empire. Peasants were bound to the land they worked, securing a steady flow of taxes and labor. Meanwhile, the…

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The Tetrarchy - The Pax Romana Podcast 79 21:34

7d ago21:34

21:34

Diocletian a low-born Illyrian, rose to emperor in a period of crisis. Instead of waiting for another civil war to erupt, he appointed Maximian to co-rule with him, and handle the problematic western empire. But as problems with invading armies and usurpers continued, Diocletian took the dramatic step of appointing additional emperors in AD 293, es…

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Diocletian's Rise - The Pax Romana Podcast 78 20:54

16d ago20:54

20:54

Turmoil resumed following Emperor Aurelian’s assassination in AD 275. Rapidly changing emperors, barbarian invasions and internal strife defined the years 275-284. Within this chaos, Diocles, a low-born Dalmatian soldier, seized power in 284. But instead of joining the long list of warlords that only temporarily won power before falling in civil wa…

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What are the Best Roman History Books? - The Pax Romana Podcast QA10 30:20

22d ago30:20

30:20

Students often ask me for Roman Empire book recommendations. Listeners have as well. It is easy to find popular histories, but here I discuss eleven excellent hidden gems--books that are great for the causal reader, but robust enough that I’ve used them in my research and teaching. These aren’t popular titles, but they’re brilliantly crafted by lea…

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Was Seneca a True Stoic or Fraud? - The Pax Romana Podcast 19:15

28d ago19:15

19:15

Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the 1st-century Roman Stoic, sparks endless debate. His works, like Letters to Lucilius and On the Shortness of Life, preach virtue, simplicity, and resilience. Yet, Seneca amassed a fortune of 300 million sesterces, owned lavish villas and advised Nero. Critics call him a hypocrite. His Stoic writings inspire, but do they al…

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Who is My Favorite Roman Emperor? - The Pax Romana Podcast 18:36

1M ago18:36

18:36

Listeners and students have asked me who my favorite Roman emperor is. Lists of the "best" emperors often highlight giants like Augustus, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius—undeniably impressive for their conquests and governance. But my favorite, for personal reasons, is a man overlooked by many historians and dismissed by the writers of his time. A blue…

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Was Rome's Grain Dole a Benefit or a Burden? - The Pax Romana Podcast 23:20

1M ago23:20

23:20

Ancient Rome--the heart of an empire--was fed by a vast network of ships and storehouses that brought grain from distant lands like Egypt and Africa. The Roman state orchestrated this colossal effort, called the Annona, to feed its citizens, a feat unmatched in the pre-industrial world. But behind this marvel lay a darker story—rural farmers stripp…

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Was Jesus a Historical Figure? - The Pax Romana Podcast 17:40

2M ago17:40

17:40

In first-century Galilee, King Herod Antipas’s stable rule provided a relatively peaceful setting for Jesus of Nazareth, born around 4 BC, to emerge as a Jewish preacher, promoting repentance and the kingdom of God. Conversely, Judea faced turmoil under Roman prefects like Pontius Pilate. By around AD 30, Jesus entered Jerusalem, and was crucified …

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Did Roman Emperors Employ Spies? - The Pax Romana Podcast 15:38

2M ago15:38

15:38

Roman emperors governed a sprawling empire, from Britain to Syria—but how did they maintain control over such vast lands? Did they rely on spies to monitor their enemies and ensure loyalty? Enter the frumentarii, a mysterious group of soldiers originally tasked with grain supply. History reveals they evolved into agents of espionage, assassination,…

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Did Ancient Romans Trust Their Own Money? - The Pax Romana Podcast 15:24

2M ago15:24

15:24

Did Romans trust their money? Roman officials required legal exchange rates, but not everyone obeyed them--especially when mints adulterated or debased precious metal coinage. Only scant evidence of rebellion survives, but there are hints that show Romans inventing new conventions--some quite elegant. How overt was monetary defiance? Marcus Corneli…

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Was the Assassination of Julius Caesar Justified? - The Pax Romana Podcast 19:29

2M ago19:29

19:29

On March 15, 44 BC, Julius Caesar, appointed dictator for life, was assassinated by senators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. Caesar’s dictatorship, his military conquests, populist reforms and unprecedented power seemed like the style of monarchy the Republic was meant to guard against. The conspirators against Caesar justified the killing …

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Why Did Rome Conquer Gaul? - The Pax Romana Podcast 17:10

3M ago17:10

17:10

In 58 BC, Julius Caesar embarked on a campaign that transformed Gaul—modern France, Belgium, and beyond—into a Roman province . What propelled this conquest? Strategic fears had long haunted Rome, from the Gallic sack of the 390s BC to Germanic pressures across the Rhine. Economic prospects tantalized as well. Yet Caesar’s ambition loomed largest, …

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When Did Rome First Build a Navy? - The Pax Romana Podcast 21:44

3M ago21:44

21:44

Rome’s early Republic leaned on its legions, with no real navy to speak of—until Carthage, a sea-dominating empire, sparked the First Punic War in 264 BC. Exposed and outmatched, Rome turned the tide in 261 BC, reverse-engineering a captured Carthaginian ship to craft a fleet of quinqueremes. Armed with ingenious corvus boarding bridges, Rome's new…

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Aurelian and the Restoration of the Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 77 21:40

3M ago21:40

21:40

Aurelian—a gritty Balkan soldier—seized a crumbling Roman Empire in AD 270. His five-year reign still stuns: how did he crush Germanic hordes, topple Zenobia’s Palmyrene Empire and reunite the Gallic Empire under Roman rule? But Aurelian was more than a conqueror. He constructed miles of walls around Rome, and erected a massive temple to Sol Invict…

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The Breakup of the Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 76 16:57

3M ago16:57

16:57

As a lethal plague tore through Rome, Persian king Sapor I struck the Empire’s east, capturing Emperor Valerian—a staunch senator and fierce Christian persecutor—after his bold counterattack failed. Internal strife and external foes shattered Rome into three warring realms: the Gallic and Palmyrene Empires rose amidst the chaos. Would the third cen…

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The Plague of Cyprian - The Pax Romana Podcast 75 16:56

4M ago16:56

16:56

In AD 249, the Plague of Cyprian swept through the Roman Empire. Named after Cyprian of Carthage, who vividly described its horrors, this plague led to loss of life and increased imperial destabilization during an already turbulent time. Accounts from Cyprian and Dionysius of Alexandria highlight the plague's severity, noting it seemed to threaten …

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The Collapse of the Roman Peace - The Pax Romana Podcast 74 17:54

4M ago17:54

17:54

The Crisis of the Third Century began with the assassination of Severus Alexander, leading to Maximinus Thrax's brief and unpopular rule. Maximinus treated Rome like his own personal piggy bank--looting everything from senatorial estates, to local funds for festivals and celebrations. he was assinated in AD 238, also known as the Year of the Six Em…

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The Collapse of the Roman Monetary System - The Pax Romana Podcast 73 20:08

4M ago20:08

20:08

The Roman monetary system--one of the worlds most stable and trusted monetary systems for nearly 500 years, seems to have collapsed in the third century AD. Rapid debasements made Roman silver coins nearly valueless. This economic instability may have prompted inhabitants of the Roman Empire to stop using currency in some regions. In just the AD 27…

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The Crisis of the Third Century AD - The Pax Romana Podcast 72 19:22

4M ago19:22

19:22

Was the third century AD a period of crisis or transformation? The prevalence of war, economic strain and demographic collapse certainly seems compelling. And yet, this same period could be viewed as a transformation where Rome adapted, with power shifting from traditional elites to military figures, and where cultural, religious, and social struct…

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Could One Senator Have Saved the Roman Empire? - The Pax Romana Podcast 071 31:07

4M ago31:07

31:07

Cassius Dio, a Roman historian and senator, seems to have foreseen the tumultuous times the Roman Empire was about to experience in the Crisis of the Third Century. His proposed reforms come to us through the lens of his famous debate between Agrippa and Maecenas in his epic history of Rome. Dio envisioned a stable, centralized Roman Empire, includ…

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The End of the Severan Dynasty - The Pax Romana Podcast 070 18:17

5M ago18:17

18:17

Alexander Severus, Roman Emperor from 222 to 235 AD, ascended to power under the guardianship of his mother and grandmother. He offered a serious foreign policy--aimed at stabilizing increasingly fragile borders to both the north and east of the Empire. But the Crisis of the Third Century was looming, and Rome's legions apparently no longer wished …

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Rome's Emperor of the Sun - The Pax Romana Podcast 069 17:54

5M ago17:54

17:54

Elagabalus, the 14-year-old priest-king, became emperor in AD 218 and tried to impose the sun god El-Gabal as Rome's chief deity. His reign was marked by multiple marriages, accusations of effeminacy and unrest in Rome. He was such a disaster of an emperor that his own grandmother sough to replace him with his cousin, Alexander.…

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Macrinus: Emperor for a Moment - The Pax Romana Podcast 068 13:35

5M ago13:35

13:35

Four days after Caracalla's assassination, the outsider Macrinus was in charge of an unstable Roman Empire. He bribed his way into a temporary peace with Parthia, but alienated his own soldiers. Was Macrinus' short reign a case of good intentions gone awry, or was he simply out of his depth?

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Gladiator II Review - The Pax Romana Podcast 51:35

6M ago51:35

51:35

GLADIATOR II promises to recapture the magic but stumbles with plot holes, CGI overload, and historical blunders! I dissect the narrative fumbles, the unearned character arcs, and the jarring anachronisms that leave you more disappointed than entertained. From battle scenes that feel like a video game to the nostalgia that can't save this sequel, d…

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Rome's Not-So-Great Alexander - The Pax Romana Podcast 067 14:40

6M ago14:40

14:40

Caracalla thought himself a reincarnated Alexander the Great. In reality, he was a tyrant and a mass murderer. After some actors in Alexandria mocked Caracalla's rumored role in his brother's death, Caracalla butchered thousands of people in the city. The emperor then launched a failed campaign against Parthia. The only reason government continued …

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Caracalla Transforms the Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 066 19:22

6M ago19:22

19:22

Caracalla rewarded his soldiers, and scored all other men--as his father Septimius Severus advised him. He stole property, murdered elites, put in new inheritance taxes and debased the Roman coinage. The temporary windfall allowed him to pass out a huge salary increase to his soldiers, but the long term effects of these policies would be greater ec…

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The Death of Septimius Severus - The Pax Romana Podcast 065 17:52

6M ago17:52

17:52

Septimius Severus, aiming for stability, made his sons Caracalla and Geta (of Gladiator II fame) co-emperors, which only fueled their rivalry. His last years were then spent campaigning in Britain, where harsh conditions and guerrilla warfare halted Roman advances. Then in AD 211, in the city of Eboracum (modern York, England), Septimius died. With…

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Perpetua the Martyr (Christianity in the Roman Empire 5/5)- The Pax Romana Podcast 064 20:09

7M ago20:09

20:09

Perpetua, a Christian martyr in the early 3rd century AD Roman Empire, left behind a rare firsthand account that provides profound insights into the personal experiences of early Christian martyrdom. Her diary, which details her imprisonment and thoughts up to her execution, offers a unique perspective on the spiritual strength, societal defiance, …

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Defending Early Christianity (Christianity in the Roman Empire 4/5) - The Pax Romana Podcast 064 21:41

7M ago21:41

21:41

How did early Christian apologists defend their faith against Roman skepticism and hostility? These were no ordinary defenders; they included philosophers like Justin Martyr and Tertullian, who used Roman law and logic to argue for Christianity's legitimacy. From debunking the worship of Roman gods as illogical and immoral, to explaining Christian …

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Roman Religion and Concerns with Christianity (Christianity in the Roman Empire 3/5) - The Pax Romana Podcast 063 19:26

7M ago19:26

19:26

On this episode, we examine the religious logic prevalent in the Roman Empire. It may be surprising to learn that belief was far less important to Romans than practice. Christianity turned the order of Roman religion on its head. As a result, Christians were accused of atheism, sedition, immorality, superstition and religious novelty.…

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Ancient Cultural Christianity (Christianity in the Roman Empire 2/5) - The Pax Romana Podcast 062 15:16

7M ago15:16

15:16

How did early Christians negotiate their identity in a polytheistic society? Cultural norms around pluralism, sex and military service presented serious challenges to Christians. Many self-identified Christians sough to merge mainstream culture with their faith.

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Life in the early Christian Church (Christianity in the Roman Empire 1/5) - The Pax Romana Podcast 061 20:07

8M ago20:07

20:07

Christianity adapted, spread, and solidified its identity in the second century AD. What was everyday life like for those who called themselves Christians in this pivotal ancient age? How strict was membership in the early church? To what extent were soldiers permitted? Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFC⁠ ⁠YouTube Channel: htt…

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The Emperor Septimius Severus - The Pax Romana Podcast 060 13:52

8M ago13:52

13:52

Septimius Severus entered Rome in AD 197 as undisputed emperor, following several years of bloody civil war. He stationed a full legion near Rome to ensure that no one could do what he had done: conquer his own empire. Septimius was a friend to his soldiers, debasing his own currency to increase soldier soldiers pay. He then turned back to what he …

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The Year of the Five Emperors - The Pax Romana Podcast 059 16:17

8M ago16:17

16:17

In the Year of the Five Emperors, Septimius Severus, a governor from Pannonia, maneuvered to become unquestioned emperor amidst several capable rivals. He first allied with Clodius Albinus in the west, naming him Caesar and heir, while eliminating a second rival, Pescennius Niger, in the east. Albinus would subsequently invade Gaul--bringing his fo…

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Empire for Sale - The Pax Romana Podcast 058 15:40

8M ago15:40

15:40

After the assassination of Commodus, Pertinax, an experienced governor and military officer, steped up to take the purple. He was a fiscal conservative and a disciplinarian. But the Roman Empire had fundamentally changed, and his own praetorian guard soon removed him from office. he empire bizarrely veered towards an auction-like scenario, where tw…

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The Curse of Commodus - The Pax Romana Podcast 057 18:53

8M ago18:53

18:53

Following the an epidemic and engineered riot in the capital in A.D. 190, Commodus emerged as a self-proclaimed god and gladiator, reshaping Rome in his image. He renamed cities, months, and even the Senate after himself, declaring his invincibility and divine status. His rule became a spectacle of cruelty and farce, culminating in a plot by his in…

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Conspiracies in the Age of Commodus - The Pax Romana Podcast 056 23:24

9M ago23:24

23:24

Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius, faced serious plots against his life. So he isolated himself from senators and other advisors, frittered away his time getting drunk and racing horses and left Rome under the care of ambitious, ruthless and corrupt men. Eventually, an apparent conspiracy of elites took power back by engineering a riot in the capita…

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Commodus: Born to the Purple - The Pax Romana Podcast 055 15:42

9M ago15:42

15:42

Commodus was "born to the purple," inheriting the throne from his father, Marcus Aurelius. The young emperor had much that suggested his reign would be successful: excellent advisors and tutors, charming looks and an inscrutable pedigree in the line of Rome's greatest emperors. As this episode shows, his initial years bore out these high expectatio…

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The Golden Age Ends - The Pax Romana Podcast 054 25:13

9M ago25:13

25:13

Marcus Aurelius was not just an eye-witness to the Pax Roman's end, but he was a crucial player in the drama as it unfolded. We are fortunate to have a unique insight into Marcus' mind in his Meditations--a collection of private notes to himself that somehow survived the ravages of time. Unfortunately for Marcus, he died shortly after writing them;…

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The Darkest Years of Marcus Aurelius - The Pax Romana Podcast 053 21:33

9M ago21:33

21:33

This episode explores the tumultuous period of Marcus Aurelius's reign between AD 175-178. Marcus had to deal with a rebellion in Egypt and widespread brigandage in the eastern empire. There may have also been a serious sickness in his family--threatening the entire dynasty. But was it covered up?

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The Marcomannic War - The Pax Romana Podcast 052 17:08

10M ago17:08

17:08

Marcus Aurelius, now sole emperor after the death of his brother Lucius Verus, faced the Germanic tribes migrating (if not invading) Rome's northern border. The Marcomannic War was the first stage of a centuries-long struggle against invaders. This episode explores the challenges, strategies, and the sheer will of Rome to defend its northern fronti…

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Climate Change and Famine in the Pax Romana - The Pax Romana Podcast 051 18:32

10M ago18:32

18:32

The Antonine plague--the world's first pandemic--did not find the Roman Empire at its strongest. In fact, climate change was affecting some key regions of the Roman Empire decades prior to the Pax Romana's end. The food supply of the empire was in jeopardy, weakening the population and encouraging migration into already crowded Roman cities. What w…

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The World's First Pandemic: The Antonine Plague - The Pax Romana Podcast 050 16:00

10M ago16:00

16:00

In the mid AD 160s, it looked like Rome was winning. The war in Parthia was going well. The two emperors, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, were well supported. But then a sudden and mysterious disease ripped across the Empire and into Italy. The outbreak was one of several jarring events that shook the Roman world.…

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Parthia Strikes Back! - The Pax Romana Podcast 049 15:50

11M ago15:50

15:50

As far as we know, Marcus Aurelius grew up in a period of general peace and tranquility. But so did his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus. When the emperor Antoninus Pius died, both men--Marcus and Lucius--had claims to the empire. But could Rome really function with two emperors? The Roman Senate thought Marcus alone should rule. Adding to the awkwar…

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The Early Life of Marcus Aurelius - The Pax Romana Podcast 048 15:22

11M ago15:22

15:22

Antoninus Pius was apparently a great emperor, but we know very little details about his reign. Instead, he is remembered as the emperor who prepared the way for his successor, Marcus Aurelius--one of the most famous emperors in all of Roman history. But Hadrian had put in place two successors, not one, for Antonine Pius. How did Antoninus balance …

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The Reign of Antoninus Pius - The Pax Romana Podcast 047 19:09

11M ago19:09

19:09

Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) ruled peacefully, leaving a lesser-known legacy. What can we know about this often neglected emperor? His coins illuminate some of the story. Gold coins showcase his loyalty: to the Senate, to Hadrian, and to his wife Faustina. Silver coins highlight his concern for the people's well-being, especially the grain supply.…

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The Roman Military, Part III - The Pax Romana Podcast 046 23:55

11M ago23:55

23:55

Was the Roman military the well-oiled machine portrayed in many films and works of historical fiction? Today we conclude this short series on the Roman military by looking at discipline. We’ll explore soldiers’ training regimen, from physical conditioning to mock battles. Roman soldiers took strict oaths, endured harsh punishments and sometimes won…

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The Roman Military, Part II - The Pax Romana Podcast 045 20:06

1y ago20:06

20:06

Why was the Roman military so powerful? How did its structure work? What men joined up and what did they actually do with their time? Twenty-five years was a long time to serve. Interestingly, the Roman military offered credible opportunities to advance in Roman society. And for non-Romans, military service could get them on the path to becoming ci…

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The Roman Military, Part I - The Pax Romana Podcast 044 18:48

1y ago18:48

18:48

Here is the first of several episodes on the Roman military. How did the military fuel expansion, secure borders and bolster the emperor's power? How large was the military and what did it cost? What role did soldiers play in both receiving imperial ideology, as well as advancing it?

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Ancient Roman Slavery - The Pax Romana Podcast 043 16:05

1y ago16:05

16:05

The Pax Romana may have thrived, but much of its prosperity was born on the backs of million. On this episode, we look at a darker side of the Pax Romana, and the institution of Roman slavery. How did it function--from the brutal realities of capture and sale--to the opportunities for freedom? Roman slavery was of questionable economic benefit, so …